Standout Cali JUCO DT Chooses Texas &M

Bakersfield JUCO DT standout </b>Ismail Abdunafi</b> took an official visit to College Station this weekend and didn't leave without giving Coach <b>Fran</b> and Gang his verbal.<p>

Asked what led to his decision, Ismail Abdunafi told Scout.com, "Ahh man, they have a great coaching staff, great tradition, and I just got a really good feel up there, for the campus, the coaches and the team."

His player host was DQ (DeQawn Mobley)...

"DQ and I got along great," Abdunafi said. "He's from the east coast just like me. We're the only two on the team from the east coast, and we got along really good."

With offers from 20+ schools, Abdunafi said he and Coach Fran made a deal. He gives them a verbal, takes one more official visit, and the Ags are done taking DTs in this year's class.

At this time, the 2004 Defensive MVP (Western State Conference) said he hasn't decided where he'll take his free trip, but said, "unless it's Miami that comes calling, I see myself an Aggie come Signing Day ('05). Something drastic would have to happen on my (next-and-last) official visit for me to change my commitment to A&M."

The 6-4, 285-pounder (with 4.88 forty speed) said the fact that A&M is already on their way back up -- playing in a major bowl (Cotton Bowl) against SEC power Tennessee -- proves the Aggies are capable of challenging for some Big 12 and post-season hardware.

The Ags will get Abdunafi in the summer. At this point, the interior defender is just 12 units away from meeting the requirements, but has another semester to wrap that up. He'll have three years to play two.